Woodbridge adopts $11.42M road, $3.03M sewer bond ordinances for 2026 capital program

The Woodbridge Township Council on June 3 adopted two bond ordinances — a general bond ordinance for $11,420,000 to fund the 2026 road improvement/paving program and a sewer utility bond ordinance for $3,030,000 to pay for underdrain work and utility vehicles and equipment.

Town officials told residents that the $11.42 million ordinance will support the 2026 road improvement paving program, and the $3.03 million ordinance covers 2026 underdrain work as well as purchase of garbage trucks, dump trucks, roll-off trucks and related radio equipment for Department of Public Works use. The council moved to take both ordinances up on second and third reading and adopted them following a public hearing.

Members of the public asked whether the purchases will be competitively bid and why the town is issuing bonds rather than paying as you go. A representative identified as a town official said no bids had been issued yet because authorization to go out to bid requires passage of the ordinance; the official added, "We always go out for competitive bids." (Town official)

Resident Tom Maris, representing Ford's New Jersey, asked for detail on equipment and whether competitive bids were or would be issued. Resident Ken Gardner asked why the township is issuing bonds when it has capital funds and sometimes pays as you go. The council president replied that spreading the cost among taxpayers over time is used for major improvements that will last 20-plus years; the amount the township pays as you go in the current budget was described in general terms by officials as "a couple of million dollars" but not specified on the record.

Both ordinances were opened for public hearing, the public hearing was closed, and the ordinances were adopted by voice vote. The transcript records the council calling for "All in favor, aye," and the ordinances passed as read.